The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14

“He saw a large crowd and had compassion on them… Then he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34

Dear Parents,

Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem—the place where everything written about the Son of Man would be accomplished. (See Luke 18:31-33.) Jesus moved between towns and villages, teaching Pharisees and scribes, tax collectors and sinners, and His own disciples along the way. Luke 18:9-14 describes a parable Jesus told to a specific group: “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9).

The parable presents two men who went up to the temple complex to pray. The first, a Pharisee, was proud and believed he was righteous because of his own deeds. He stood up and prayed, thanking God that he was not as sinful as other people.

The second, a tax collector, humbly acknowledged his sin and asked God for mercy. Jesus explained that the tax collector—and not the Pharisee—went home justified.

The tax collector knew he needed God to forgive him, and he cried out to God. Everyone is a sinner who needs forgiveness. Jesus took the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross. We can cry out to God like the tax collector and because of Jesus, God will forgive us.

As you talk with your kids, explain that God rejects the proud but gives grace to the humble. (See Jas. 4:6.) The sin of pride keeps us from Jesus. Pride is thinking we are better than we really are. Someone with the attitude of the Pharisee sees no need for Jesus. The Pharisee focused on sins he had avoided rather than confessing his sin, but the tax collector knew he had no standing before a righteous God. He asked for mercy, and God was merciful to him.

God did not look at the Pharisee—nor does He ever look at us—and say, “Wow, that’s impressive.” God sees us for who we really are: sinners in need of forgiveness. Jesus took the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross. God wants everyone to be saved (see 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), and we can come to Him with nothing but empty hands of faith. We can cry out to God like the tax collector and because of Jesus, God will forgive us.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

KEY PASSAGE: Mark 6:34

BIG PICTURE QUESTION:

Why did Jesus tell stories? Jesus told stories to teach people about God.

BIBLE STORY: THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

Jesus taught about being humble.

Jesus told a story about two men who prayed.

The religious leader prayed by telling God how good he was.

The tax collector prayed by asking God for mercy.

FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS:

Is it ever OK to think you are better than someone else?

Can we make God love us more by doing good things?

What are some ways you are tempted to think you are better than someone else?

FAMILY ACTIVITY:

Invite a family to dinner or a play date whom you would not typically spend time with.